Search form

Main menu

Get Malik Out of Ad-Seg: PHONE ZAP on 11/13! ⚡

Friends, it's time to get Malik out of solitary confinement.

Malik has experienced intense, targeted harassment ever since he dared to start speaking out against brutal conditions faced by incarcerated people in Texas and nationwide--but over the past few months, prison officials have stepped up their retaliation even more.

In Administrative Segregation (solitary confinement) at McConnell Unit, Malik has experienced frequent humiliating strip searches, medical neglect, mail tampering and censorship, confinement 23 hours a day to a cell that often reached 100+ degrees in the summer, and other daily abuses too numerous to name. They are trying to make an example of him because he is a committed freedom fighter. So we have to step up.

Phone zap on Tuesday, November 13

**Mark your calendars for the 11/13 call inand spread the word!!**

Demands:

- Convene special review of Malik's placement in Ad-Seg and immediately release him back to general population

- Explain why the State Classification Committee's decision to release Malik from Ad-Seg back in June was overturned (specifically, demand to know the nature of the "information" supposedly collected by the Fusion Center, and demand to know how this information was investigated and verified).

"Hello, I'd like to talk to _______. I'm calling because Keith Washington's (TDC#1487958) placement in Ad-Seg is a clear case of political repression and retaliation, which has no connection whatsoever to any legitimate security or safety concern, and I'm calling to demand that you convene a special review of Keith's placement in Ad-Seg and release him back to general population ASAP.

You are trying to make an example out of him, and I demand that the intense harassment and retaliation against Mr. Washington cease immediately, especially the strip searches, medical neglect, and mail tampering he has been subjected to on your watch.

I am well aware that Keith was cleared for release from Ad-Seg by the State Classification Committee back in June, and the abrupt reversal of that decision was made on the basis of information that has NEVER been disclosed to Malik or any other person, and has never been independently evaluated or verified. It's pure fiction, which is just another indicator of the political repression he is facing. Release Malik from Ad-Seg immediately!"

Background on Malik's Situation

Malik's continued assignment to Ad-Seg (solitary confinement) in is an overt example of political repression, plain and simple. Prison officials placed Malik in Ad-Seg two years ago for writing about and endorsing the 2016 nationwide prison strike. They were able to do this becauseTexas and U.S. law permits non-violent work refusal to be classified as incitement to riot.

It gets worse. Malik was cleared for release from Ad-Seg by the State Classification Committee in June--and then, in an unprecedented reversal, immediately re-assigned him back to Ad-Seg. The reason? Prison Officials site "information" collected by a shadowy intelligence gathering operation called a Fusion Center, which are known for lack of transparency and accountability, and for being blatant tools of political repression.

Malik remains in horrible conditions, vulnerable to every possible abuse, on the basis of "information" that has NEVER been disclosed or verified. No court or other independent entity has ever confirmed the existence, let alone authenticity, of this alleged information. In fact, as recently as October 25, a representative of the State Classification Committee told Malik that he has no clue why Malik was re-assigned to Ad-Seg. This "information" is pure fiction.

About Malik

Keith "Malik" Washington is an incarcerated activist who has spoken out on conditions of confinement in Texas prison and beyond: from issues of toxic water and extreme heat, to physical and sexual abuse of imprisoned people, to religious discrimination and more. Malik has also been a tireless leader in the movement to #EndPrisonSlavery which gained visibility during nationwide prison strikes in 2016 and 2018. View his work atcomrademalik.com or write him at:

Comments

November 13, 2018 9:10am

Terri Scofield (not verified)

After several unsuccessful attempts to reach by phone I sent the following email:
terri scofield <terriscofield@yahoo.com>
To:
exec.director@tdcj.texas.gov
Nov 13 at 11:07 AM
Dear Mr. Collier,
I am writing to demand Mr. Keith "Malik" Washington's immediate release from Ad-Seg, and further demand your staff immediately cease and desist their state sanctioned terrorism and abuse against Mr. Washington.
As recently as October 25, a representative of the State Classification Committee told Malik that he has no clue why Malik was re-assigned to Ad-Seg.
I and many other activists world wide are repulsed and angered by the frequent humiliating strip searches, medical neglect, mail tampering and censorship, confinement 23 hours a day to a cell that often reached 100+ degrees in the summer, and other daily abuses too numerous to name.
Mr. Washington is a fellow human being, residing on Earth, which makes him a family member of my tribe. I take seriously the responsibility to care for and about my family members and protect them by any means necessary.
I have called upon the spirits of my ancestors to rain sickness and death upon all who have harmed Mr. Washington, sevenfold in proportion to the harm they have caused.
Please contact me within 10 days and inform me when and how you are taking steps to end the state sanctioned torture and abuse of Mr. Washington while he is under your care and control.
Terri Scofield
PO Box 1302
Medford, NY, 11763
631-624-4938

Thank you so much for organizing this effort! Update on the call:
-- I was able to leave a comment with the receptionist at Executive Director Bryan Collier's office
-- When I called the warden's office was transfered to the law library who was of course unable to take my call. I called back and was correctly transfered to Warden Sinfuentes and gave him my comment to which he said "duly noted."
-- I was told that Regional Director Martinez would give me a call back because he was out to lunch. I left my phone number with the receptionist and will try again later if I don't hear back soon!
Viva a resistencia!

November 13, 2018 12:20pm

Lav (not verified)

After staying on hold to talk to warden directly, they hung up on me twice. Finally blurted the message to a secretary after calling the third time. Miguel Martinez wasn’t in office so I talked to the lieutenant on shift, got the whole message out but got a very indifferent response that he’ll let my concern be known. Assholes

November 13, 2018 12:32pm

M (not verified)

Wasn’t able to reach director Martinez but was able to reach the assistant director, who’s name I forgot to write down, ha!

November 13, 2018 1:38pm

MK (not verified)

Just called, spoke to Stephanie(?) at Collier's office, who says of course our info is bad, and Malik has been disclosed the reason he was reassigned to Ad-seg, and that the State Classification Committee has been informed and made the decision themselves. Of course I don't believe any of it, but I pivoted by asserting to the receptionist that years in ad-seg aka solitary is clearly torture (as asserted by the UN special rapporteur for anything over a couple weeks I think), and that it is being used against someone who has been vocal in his concern for treatment of prisoners does not seem like a coincidence but clearly political repression. Collier's office cannot justify it.